Post-mold.



R. A. LEONARD.

POST MOLD.- APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1909.

. f ill! Patented Jan. 18,1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH A. LEONARD, 0F EDON, OHIO.

POST-MOLD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH A. LEONARD, citizen of the United States,residing at Edon, in the county of WVilliams and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Molds, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to molds for making fence posts and has for itsobject to provide a strong, durable and thoroughly eflicient mold ofthis character by means of which artificial stone fence posts ofhexagonal formation may be expeditiously and economically manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mold includingpivotally connected side sections having end sections or wallsdetachably combined therewith and normally supported in engagement withthe side sections by suitable fastening devices, provision being alsomade for reinforcing the post and providing the latter with wireengaging devices during the formation of the post.

A still further object is to provide a reversible mold, the sidesections of which are movable laterally to open position so as to exposethe molded product and thus permit the ready removal of the same withoutchipping, cracking, or otherwise mutilating the post.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description,it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mold constructed in accordancewith my inven tion; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same;Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the mold reversed and the side sectionsmoved laterally to open position so as to permit the removal of thefence post; Fig. a is a detail perspective view of one end of one of thereinforcing rods or bars; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the moldedfence post, portions being broken away to more clearly show theconstruction of the same.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 24, 1909.

Patented J an. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 479,711.

in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved mold forming the subject matter of the present inventioncomprises a hexagonal body portion formed of metal, wood, or othersuitable material, and including movable side sections 5 and 6 eachformed of angularly disposed longitudinal strips preferably extendingthe entire length of the mold, as shown. Secured to the lowerlongitudinal strip of each side section is a bottom section 7, theabutting faces of which are pivotally connected by suitable hinges v8 soas to permit the side sections to be moved laterally to open positionand thus expose the molding product.

Detachably secured to the opposite ends of the mold are end sections orwalls 9 and 10 to the outer faces of which are secured longitudinal bars11 having their free ends extended laterally beyond the adjacentperipheral edges of the end sections and provided with inclined slots orkerfs 12 which interlock with similar slots or kerfs 13 formed insuitable locking members lt pivotally mounted at 15 on the side sectionsof the mold, whereby the several sections may be rigidly supported inassembled position preparatory to introducing the cement, concrete orother plastic material within the molding compartment.

The end sections 9 and 10 are provided with shoulders 16 which conformto and bear against the interior walls of the side and bottom sectionsof the mold and thus assist in preventing the escape of concrete fromthe molding compartment.

The side sections are reinforced and strengthened by the provision ofstrap irons 17 which extend from points adjacent the upper longitudinaledges of the side sections to the inner longitudinal edges of the bottomsections, some of said strap irons constituting stops to limit thepivotal movement of the locking members 14. The upper longitudinal edgesof the side sections are spaced apart to permit the introduction ofcement or concrete and are provided with fiat bearing surfaces 18 whichform supports for a removable pallet 19.

A flat longitudinal bar 19 is preferably embedded in the cement orconcrete during the formation of the post, said bar having a pluralityof spaced bolts 20 rigidly secured thereto with their free endsprojecting through the opening in the top of the molding compartment forengagement with clamping nuts 21. The bolts 20 are used for fasteningthe line wires, while the nuts 21 are arranged to bear against and clampa retaining plate 22 in engagement with said Wires, as best shown inFig. 5 of the drawings. Provision is also made for reinforcing andstrengthening the post by inserting one or more longitudinal rods orbars 23 in the cement, these reinforcing rods being provided withlaterally extending projections 2%. preferably disposed in staggeredrelation so as to cause the cement to adhere thereto and thus assist inanchoring the rods in the cement.

A removable partition 25 is arranged within the molding compartment andadjustable longitudinally of the mold so as to permit the formation offence posts of dif ferent. lengths.

In operation the mold is positioned on the ground or other suitablesupport with the bottom sections disposed in contact therewith afterwhich the end sections 9 and 10 are secured to the opposite ends of themold by means of the locking members 14. The cement, concrete or otherplastic material is then shoveled or otherwise introduced into themolding compartment through the open side of the mold, the reinforcingrods and wire engaging devices being subsequently embedded in theconcrete as before stated. The pallet 19 is then positioned on the upperlongitudinal edges of the side sections with the terminals of the bolts20 extending through the openings formed therein as best shown in Fig. 2of the drawings. After the parts are thus assembled, the mold isreversed, that is to say, positioned on the ground with the pallet inengagement therewith, and in which positionthe locking devices arereleased and the side sections swung laterally to open position so as topermit the ready removal of the molded product.

W hile the mold is principally designed for manufacturing fence posts,it is obvious that it may be used with equally good results for moldinghitching posts, pillars, col umns, and analogous devices. hen the moldis employed for manufacturing hitching posts, the side sections thereofmay be formed with suitable round or longitudinally disposed slots 26 topermit the insertion of metallic rods having rings or eyes formedthereon so as to form a means for hitching horses thereto.

Having thus described the l11\'Q1ll'lO11,Wl1t1t is claimed as new is:

A mold including an elongated body portion having laterally movable sidewalls, the upper longitudinal edges of which are spaced apart to form acement receiving opening bottom sections rigidly secured to the sidesections and having their inner edges pivot ally united, reinforcingstraps embracing the side and bottom sections of the mold, end sectionsinterposed between the side sections and provided with angular shouldersadapted to bear against interior walls of the side and bottom sections,transverse bars secured to the exterior faces of the end sections andhaving locking grooves formed therein, locking members pivotally mountedon the side sections and provided with recessed ends arranged to enterthe grooves in the locking bars, and a pallet forming a closure for thecement receiving opening and provided with spaced perforations to permitthe passage of wire fastening devices, the rearward movement of thepivoted locking members being limited by engagement of the strap irons.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH A. LEONARD.

lVitnesses:

ALBERT SIEBERABER, O. OBERLIN.

tn. s]

